Navya Nair: Performing in Chennai during Margazhi feels great

Actress and Bharatanatyam exponent Navya Nair, who performed in the city this Margazhi on December 30 at Kartik Fine Arts, sits down with us to reflect on her journey across cinema and dance, her absence from Tamil cinema, and the growing concern around the circulation of AI-generated images of artistes. Excerpts:“Performing in Chennai, especially during Margazhi, feels great,” says Navya. Recalling her earlier performances in the city, she shares, “I’ve performed in Chennai twice before, including once at the Raj Bhavan for the Navaratri kolu festival. The Honourable Governor gave me that opportunity after he saw my performance at a function celebrating M Balamuralikrishna sir’s birth anniversary. Both performances are special to me, as I danced in front of eminent people who value art.” Navya credits her guru, Bharatanatyam dancer Priyadarsini Govind, for being a big influence. “She is an encyclopedia of persona and grace. I place her next to my mom. I can speak to her about anything, not just dance.”‘Haven’t been getting any scripts from Tamil; I’m open to working here’The actress, whose last Tamil outing was Rasikkum Seemane in 2010, says that her absence from Tamil cinema is “purely coincidental”. “I haven’t been getting any scripts from Tamil, but someone did reach out to me recently. I like the Tamil film industry, and I’m open to working here if I get good scripts.”‘Social media negativity can hit you harder today’Navya, who last appeared in the Malayalam film Paathirathri (2025), is in no hurry to sign projects. “I’m listening to scripts and haven’t committed to anything,” she says. As for what lies ahead, the actress is ready to experiment. “I’m always open to doing out-of-the-box characters. I sometimes feel that I should play some crooked and cruel characters,” she expresses. Reflecting on how the film landscape has changed over the years, she states, “I had a great time in the 2000s. The difference between then and now is that social media is instantly flooded with opinions after a film’s release. So, the negativity can hit you harder. Earlier, you wouldn’t be bothered because you’d be shooting on some other set by that time. But that has changed. You’ve to give multiple interviews and also interact on social media now. That said, if a film is meant to work, it’ll work.”‘I don’t comment about anything that’s out of my control’She feels it isn’t right for actors to be judged for their offscreen statements. “What truly matters is whether an actor can pull off a character. Art is beyond the statements and personality of an individual. It’s the performances you deliver that matter the most,” she says, and adds, “I don’t comment about anything that’s out of my control. My statements are always about my personal experiences and human emotions. With that too, I say, ‘This is what I know and there is another side for everything.’ I can only comment on what I’ve experienced, and I feel I’m no one to talk about anything outside of that.”‘I don’t know whether they are making Drishya 3; haven’t received any calls’Navya played Meena’s character from the Drishyam franchise in its Kannada remakes, Drishya and Drishya 2. She stresses that working on the remake of a successful film still comes with uncertainties. “Drishyam was already a proven film. But just because a film was a hit in Kerala, you can’t predict that it’ll also be a hit in another language. The audiences are different.” When asked if Drishya 3 is on the cards, Navya responds, “I don’t know whether they are making the film. I haven’t received any calls.”About her Tamil debut...Looking back at her Tamil debut (Azhagiya Theeye, 2004), she reveals, “I did get Tamil offers even before that, but couldn’t take them up due to date clashes. When Radha Mohan sir approached me (for Azhagiya Theeye), I was really impressed with him. Prasanna was also down-to-earth and a nice co-star.”